Grain drill



(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 1, J. W. RHODES.

GRAIN DRILL.

No. 488,036. Patented July 29, 1890.

(No Model.) 4 Sheets--Sheet 2. J W. RHODES.

GRAIN DRILL.

No. 433,086. Patented July 29, 1890.

INVENTOR JOHN z'rcns co.. more-mum, msn NCWON u c (No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 3.

J. W. RHODES.

GRAIN DRILL.

No. 433,036. Patented July 29, 1890.

l l 112 A 12 ATTEEBT' 1 28 M M J O W (No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 4. J. W. RHODES.

GRAIN DRILL.

No. 433,036 Patented July 29, 1890.

lwvgN-ro Jo ATTEeT HODES.

a W M M MMMJ UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOllN V. RHODES, OF HAVANA, ILLINOIS.

GRAIN-DRILL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 433,036, dated July 29, 1890.

Application filed June 20, 1889- Serial No, 314,962. (N0 model.)

To (tZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOHN V. RHODES, of Havana, in the county of Mason and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Grain-Drills, of which the following is a specification, made with suiticient fullness, clearness, and exactness to enable others skilled in the art to which it relates to make and use the same.

This invention relates more particularly to press-dr'lls-z'. 6., drills the runners or furrowopeners of which are followed by wheels that press the soil over the grain, though the details are in great part applicable to other classes of drills.

The invention consists in certain details of construction and combinations of parts relating to the runners, the runner-raising mechanism, the depressing'sprii'igs for the runners and means for regulating the same, the neckv yoke, the evener, the hopper-lid lock, the fertilizer-conveyor, and the means for distributingthe weight of the driver among the wheelframes while permitting a limited amount of lateral motion therein, all as hereinafter set forth in detail and specifically claimed.

In the drawings accompanying and forming a part of this specification, Figure 1 is a side view of the operative parts of a drillembodying my improvements. Fig. 2 is a side View of the runner-raising mechanism. Fig.

3 is an enlarged rear elevation of the latch that forms a part of the runner-raising mechanism. Fig. at is a side elevation of a runner and afertilizer-conveyer. Fig. 5is aplan projected from Fig. 4:, showing the connection of a runner with a cross-bar of a runner-frame and the spring used to impart yielding pressure to the runner.- Fig. 6 is a sectional view on broken line so in Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is a side view of the hoppenlid fastener. Fig. 8 is a plan of the same. Fig. 9 is a plan of a complete drill, with the tongue broken to expose certain peculiarities in the construction of the evener. Fig. 10 is a side view of the front end of the tongue, showing the connection of the neck-yoke therewith. Fig. 11 is a projection from Fig. 1, showing the manner of forming the adjustable connection between the runner-shank and the fcrtilizenconveyer. Fig. 12 is a rear view of the wheel-frames and wheels showing the means employed to distribute the weight of the driver among the frames while permitting a limited amount of lateral motion therein. Fig. 13 is a perspective view of a runner detached from the shank. Fig. 1% is a diagram showing the construction of a runner as viewed from the rear, and also showing the condition of the ground when acted on by such runners and previous to the covering action of the following wheels.

The drill comprises a forward frame 11, to which the tongue, the eveuer, the runners, the fertilizer-conveyer, and the hoppers for the seed and fertilizer are attached, and rear frames 12, pivotally connected with the forward frame, mounted on coveringwvheels, and carrying the drivers seat and the runner-raising mechanism. The runners 1 are bifurcated at their forward terminations 1", and they embrace the projecting lugs 29 of a bracket secured to the front bar of the front frame. posed of two parts 1, somewhat widely divergent at their terminations, and having the notches 1 and the oblique edges 1. Through each bifurcated end of a runner and through the lugs 29 of each bracket extends a short shaft 34:. On each shaft is a sleeve 33, and on each sleeve is a compound spiral spring comprising the ends 30, which bear against the brackets, the coils 31, which encircle the sleeves, and the loop-terminations 32, which bear in the crotches of the runners. In the crotch of each runner is a small projecting plate, (seen clearly at l in Fig. 6,) and through each plate extends a set-serew 6. The ends of the loops of the springs rest in line with theends of the screws, and the tension of the springs may be regulated by adjusting the screws in the plates.

A bar 13 has the pivotal extension 13, that connects with the forward frame, and the rear extension 13, that carries the seat 28. It is supported from the rear of the frames 12 by suitable braces 68, or in any other suitable manner. Bars 11 and are carried by bar 13, and at their conjunction provide a pivotal bearing for segmental rack 16 and hand lock'lever 26. The beam is located centrally among the runners, to the frame of which it is securely attached, and it carries the metal bar 19, which extends past the axles of the wheels. Lift-bar or link 18 connects The rear end of the runner is com-.

pivotally with the rear end of the bar 19 and extends upwardly; Arm 17 of rack 16 connects pivot-ally with the lift-bar at a point somewhat below its upper end, leaving an extension 18 projecting above the pivot. Bracket 21 is secured to the rear of bars 15 by means of hook-bolts 27 27 and 27, as seen in Fig. 3. A latch 28 pivots on a boss, through which bolt 27 passes and swings in position to engage the recesses of rack 16.

Strap 22 is held by the attaching-bolts 27 27. It forms a guide for the latch and it extends obliquely upward and forms a point of con nection for spring 24, which holds the latch normally out of contact wit-h the rack.

The evener comprises the bars 48 and 48, secured to the front frame on opposite sides and equidistant from the center thereof, the three-horse eveners 49 and 49, connected one with bar 48 and the other with bar 48, the chain 50, extending around a pulley and connecting the long ends of the eveners together, the straps 51 and 51 a on the short ends of the eveners, and the doubletrees 52, 52, and 52*, each provided with singletrees. The doubleiree 52 connects With strap 51, doubletree 52" is connected with the pulley around which the chain passes, and 52 is connected with strap 51.

The seed-hopper fastener comprises .the plate 41, secured to the inside of the hopper by means of the downward-projecting lugs 42. An upward-projecting ledge 43 has the slot 45, (seen only in Fig. 8,) and it has an extension that carries pivot-pin 35. An extended boss or short pin 88 provides a pivot for the lock-lever 37, and a lug 44 provides a point of connection for spring 40. Hingestrap 10 is secured to the lid of the hopper, and. it pivots on pin 35. lt is provided with recesses, as 36, adapted to thelock-lever. The lugs 39 provide means for connecting lines 47 with the lock-lever, and the bifurcate end 41 of said lever provides a bearing for the operative end of spring 40. The lines 47 extend to the ends of the hopper, as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 9, and connect with knobs 61, or are made otherwise accessible from the ends of the hopper. The pivot 35 acts with the other hinges of the hopper-lid, and when it is desired to open or close the same a line 47 is manipulated from an end of the hopper, thereby drawing the lock-lever from contact with a catch of the hinge-plate 10. After the lid is placed in the desired position the locklever is thrown into place by the spring and the lid is automaticallylocked open or closed, as the case may be.

The fertilizer-conveyer comprises a tubular chute 3, provided with a lug 3, that is 0011- nected with a lug 2 on shank 2 by means of a bolt 46, that extends through both lugs and secures them together in various positions of adjustment by frictional pressure. The neckyoke frame 56 is rigidly secured to the under side of the forward end of the tongue 53 by bolts 57. The swinging frame 58 has vertical trunnions 59, that bear in the rigid frame. The main yoke 54 is pivoted in swinging frame 58 on the horizontal pin 60, and the secondary yokes 55 and 55" are suitably secured to the ends of the main yoke. The frames extend downward sufficiently to enable the different connections to be made with the breast-straps without lowering the tongue to an undesiryoke on the different pivots tends to avoid breakage. The shanks of the runners have each a lug 4, over which a link of chain 5 passes. The chain is secured to a bar of the front frame, and is held on the lugby the removable pin 48. of the runners with the frame and enables some of the runners to be raised to conform to elevations, as dead furrows, extending lengthwise of the field.

A principal Wei ght-distributing bar is shown at 62 in Fig. 12, and secondarybars are shown at 63 and 63. Bar 63 is connected at its ends with frames 12 by means of pins that extend through slots 64 in said frames 12. This bar, as well as bar 63, is preferably in duplicate, and it embraces the frames and the principal bar 02 in a manner to form well-balanced connections. Bar 63" is trunnioned at its ends on blocks 64 and the rods 65, supported on brackets 66, provide sliding bearings for the blocks. By means of this construction the frames may tilt to conform to uneven ground without being drawn sidewise out of line with the runners, as the secondary bars will yield slidingly in the slots or on the rods, as the case may be. The two forms of connection are shown to better illustrate the principle of this part of my invention; but in practical use but one form will be used in any one drill, though, if desired, a similar sliding connection may be made between the principal and the secondary bars.

The seed is supplied to the runners in the customary manner from hopper 8. The fertilizer is fed from hopper 9, and the covering is effected by wheels 7.

The construction of the springs is such that elasticity is distributed throughout a comparatively great length, and consequently the pressure does not materially'increase as the runners rise. This enables the grain to be deposited at an even depth in uneven ground, and the tensionregulating screws make it possible to vary the depth of deposit to suit various requirements.

The peculiar construction of the rear terminations of the runners enables the soil that is removed from the furrows below broken line Y in Fig. 14 to be ridged up above the normal line of the surface of the ground to the highest maintainable point and with the expenditure of a very small. degree of force. This latter will be better understood when it This connects the rear ends able extent, and the free swing of the main is considered. that, with the exception of the small rectangular furrows formed to receive the seed, there is no occasion to compress the soil laterally, but that the ridge is formed by an oblique raising of the soil effected by scraping motion of properly-inclined surfaces. The ridges, formed as described, serve to pro tect the grain against frost and wind, and are particularly desirable.

The weight of the forward frame, especially in drills having a large number of runners, is so great that it is necessary to use great leverage in raising it. This necessitates the. shortening; of arm 17 to such an extent that the front frame and runners cannot be raised, to the proper height with one sweep of the hand-lever. To overcome this I cause the lock-latch 23 to hold rack 16, while the handlever is disengaged therefrom and moved forward to engage said rack for as many additional sweeps as is necessary to raise the runners as high as desired. The same lock-latch attachment is necessary in lowering the frame when the same has been raised to its full height. In the particularconstruction shown the latch is designed to be operated by footpressure; but it is obvious that connections may be made that will enable hand-power to be used when desired. The catch of the handlever is usually locked out of contact with the rack as shown in Fig. 2, and heretofore in passing over abrupt depressions, as dead furrows, the rack has been liable to swing to such an extent that its connection with the lift-bar 18 would pass a line drawn from its axis to thepivotal point on bar 19, and so produce a dead-lock that could only be overcome with difficulty. In the present construction the extension 18 strikes against arm 17 and prevents such disadjustment. The lift-bar, as shown, comprises two parts that embrace arm 17, and a connecting-bolt provides the stop; but it is obvious that stops may be formed in various ways, either on the arm or on the lift-bar, and I do not therefore confine my invention to the particular stop shown and described.

The utility of the evener lies in an avoidance of side draft, enabling straight driving to be easily accomplished, and in the removal of the strain from the tongue when turning the machine around, both features being desirable in drills of all sizes, and almost indispensable in the wider kinds. This arrangement can be utilized on the above described plan for any number of horses. hen for two horses only, the center pulley is attached to an extension of the main beam 20, or to the tongue, and in using the device for three or five horse drills the tongue is set to one side.

The lid-fasten er enables the lid to be locked open while putting in the seed and be securely closed while filled. This is desirable as a provision against wind, which, when high, tends to blow the lid closed when open, and open when closed. It also acts to protect the contents of the hopper from disturbance by animals. It will be seen that the loclvlever would operate on the outside of the hopper, and this change, together with obvious modifications in the construction of the lock-lever and adjuncts, is intended to be included in these Letters Patent, the essential features of this part of the invention beinga look at the center of the hopper or near thereto, and connections therewith accessible from the ends of the hopper.

The fert-ilizer-conveyer may be so adjusted that the lower end thereof will more or less nearly approach the shank of the runner, so that the seed may be deposited and covered more or less deeply before the fertilizer is discharged, it usually being desirable that the fertilizer shall not come in contact with the grain. After the fertilizer is deposited the presswheels cover both it and the seed with a layer of soil firmly compressed.

Having thus described my invention, Iclaim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. In combination with the runner-frame of a grain-drill, lugs projecting from the frame, a runner having a bifurcate forward termination embracing the lugs, ashaft extending through the lugs and the bifurcate end of the runner, and a spiral spring on the shaft having one end bearing against the runner and the other end against the frame, as set forth.

2. In combination with the runner-fra1ne of a grain-d rill, lugs projecting from the frame, a runner having a forward bifureate termination embracing the lugs, a shaft extending through the lugs and the bifurcate end of the runner, and a compound spiral spring formed of a loop of metal encircling the shaft and bearing with its loop against the runner and with its ends against the frame, as set forth.

3. In combination with the runner-frame of a grain-drill, lugs projecting from the frame, a runner having a bifurcate forward termination embracing the lugs, a shaft extending through the lugs and the bifurcate end of the runner, a compound spiral spring formed of a loop of metal encircling the shaft and bearing with its loop against the runner and with its ends against the frame, and a set-screw in the runner adapted to the loop of the spring, as set forth.

4. In combination with the runner-frame of a grain-drill, a runner pivotally connected with the frame, a spring bearing on the runner, and aset-screwin the runner to regulate the tension of the spring, as set forth.

5. In grain-drills, in combination, rear frames mounted on wheels and carrying a drivers seat, a front frame pivotally connected with the rear frames, means on the rear frames for raising and lowering the forward frame, runners connected with the forward frame and supporting the same when in operation, springs tending to press the runners downward, and flexible connections between the rear ends of the runners and the frame forming positive steps, as set forth.

(5. In grain-drills, in combination, a frame, a runner connected with the frame by a spring IIO joint, and a yielding connection between the rear end of the runner and the frame, forming a positive stop, as set forth.

7. In grain-drills, in combination, a front frame having runners attached, rear frames hinged thereto and carried on Wheels, a rack pivotall y supported from the rear frame and having an arm, as 17, a hand-lever mounted on the pivot of the rack and having a lockbolt adapted to the teeth of the rack, a beam of the front frame extended rearwardly, and a connecting-bar pivoted on the end of the beam, connected pivotally with the arm of the rack, and extended above said arm to form a stop, as set forth.

8. In grain-drills, in combination, a front frame with runners attached, rear frames hinged thereto and mounted on wheels, a rack supported pivotally on the rear frames and connected with the forward frame, a lever mounted on the pivot of the rack, and having a bolt adapted to the teeth of the rack, and a lock-latch adapted to the teeth of the rack and held normally out of contact therewith, as set forth.

9. In grain-drills, in combination, a tongue, a frame rigidly secured to the under surface of the tongue, a swinging frame pivoted vertically in the rigid frame, and a four-horse yoke swung on a horizontal pivot in the swinging frame, as and for the purpose set forth.

10. In grain-drills, in combination with the runner-shanks thereof, fertilizer-conveying tubes pivo ally connected with the upper rear 3 5 portions of the shanks, and. means for securing the tubes in various positions of adjustment, whereby soil in greater or less quantit y may be made to intervene between the seed and the fertilizer, as set forth.

. 1 1. In grain-drills, in combination, a hopper having a hinged lid, a lock-hinge at or near the longitudinal center of the hopper, and lines connected to bolt of the lock-hinge and extended to the ends of the hopper, as set forth.

12. In grain-drills, in combination, a front frame having runners, rear frames mounted on Wheels and connecting pivotally with the front frame, distributing-bars slidingly con nected With the rear frames, and a seatsupported from the weight-distributing bars, as set forth.

In testimony whereof I sign my name in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

JOHN W. RHODES.

Attest:

ISAAC N. IVIITCHELL, FRANK. I. MITCHELL. 

